The committee also concluded that a Gray campaign aide gave money to another mayoral candidate last year and that Gray campaign officials promised a job to that candidate, Sulaimon Brown.

It does not draw any conclusions about whether Gray was aware of the illegal nepotism, the payments to Brown and other instances of cronyism and excessive salaries. But it faults the mayor for allowing the misdeeds to occur under his watch and for damaging the public's trust in district government.

The committee released a draft report to reporters Tuesday after a lengthy investigation of the Gray administration's hiring practices.